Medieval India

Choose the Correct Answer

Correct Answer : Option c

Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: Travellers who left written accounts were generally men who were interested in and sometimes intrigued by the condition of women in the subcontinent. Sometimes they took social inequities for granted as a "natural" state of affairs. For instance, slaves were openly sold in markets, like any other commodity, and were regularly exchanged as gifts. When Ibn Battuta reached Sind he purchased "horses, camels and slaves" and gifted it to Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq. Slaves were openly sold in markets, like any other commodity, and were regularly exchanged as gifts

Statement 2 is not correct: Slaves were generally used for domestic labour," and Ibn Battuta found their services indispensable for carrying men and women on palanquins (dola). There is no reference in his account to slaves being primarily employed for military purposes.

Statement 3 is correct: The price of slaves, particularly female slaves required for domestic labour, was very low, and most families who could afford to do so kept at least one or two of them. Some female slaves in the service of the Sultan were experts in music and dance, and Ibn Battuta enjoyed their performance at the wedding of the Sultan's sister. Female slaves were also employed by the Sultan to keep a watch on his nobles.